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A while back, there was some talk about places one can find a decent meal in the city for under $10. That got us thinking -- $10 isn't that tough, but what about $5? And the same rules apply -- "no fast-food chains, no coffee shops and no slices." Our first thought was Fried Dumpling -- at $1 for 5 dumplings, you could literally gorge yourself for $5. Our second thought was any of the various banh mi places in Chinatown, like Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1, where every sandwich on the menu is less than $5. Other options include the delectable falafel from Rainbow Falafel & Shwarma ($3.50 plus tax); $2 tacos at Zaragoza (two tacos are quite filling); or you could order very carefully at Grilled Cheese NYC, but who wants to worry about going over budget? The $3.75 lunch special at 38th Street Restaurant and Bakery also fits the bill. Admittedly, 25 fried pork dumplings may cause some gastric distress, but the other options are a bit more well-rounded. What are your suggestions for a cheap, fairly decent meal for less than five bucks?
Photo courtesy of CityRag
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you could pay $3.50 at rainbow for falafal or get the real deal at mamoun's for $2. let's not foget about the gray's papaya recession special.
aren't all lunch specials in chinatown under $5?
the crepe window at Shade (W.3rd and Sullivan?) has great crepes for under $5, including breakfast, lunch/dinner and dessert.
what is that sandwich in the picture? it makes me hungry.
get a great Banh Me @ Nicky's on 2nd street and avenue A
the sandwich platters at cafe reggio are $4.50 and you get a sizeable sandwich (it's like 1.5 sandwiches), a pickle, olives, a hardboiled egg and the best potato salad in the city.
http://www.cafereggio.com/menu2.htm
I'm hesitant to add this for selfish reasons, but Gourmet 53 (3rd Ave and 53rd Street) has a lunch special that includes a small salad (cobb, chicken ceaser, greek, and a few others), your choice of fresh pita chips or a monster bagel-like roll, and choice of fruit or brownie bites for $4.50. The small salad is not so small, and you can upgrade to the large for $5.50.
That's right near my office -- hooray! Thanks for sharing.
The giant Rafiqui carts (I go to the one on Park and 32nd, but there's lots in midtown) serve a great chicken and lamb on rice platter--with salad--for $4.50. It's so big that finishing means you'll be passed out by 3pm.
the punjabi cab stand on east 1st st., definitely. you can choose from a rotating array of 6-8 different vegetarian dishes, with rice for just $3. add roti and salad for another dollar... they also have cheap desserts and excellent chai for a buck.
My vote is for a can of Faxe Lager. At $3, you get 2 1/2 pints of high quality Danish beer, surely plenty for a lunch break, and it leaves you with $2 to spend on a hotdog if you absolutely must have something solid to "eat".
It's $5.95, but the teriyaki bento box at Go Sushi in the west village is the best deal I've ever seen, with plenty left over for the next day.
$4.59 Kalua Pork with Cabbage at the L&L Hawaiian BBQ (535 8th Ave) It's ono bra!
I freakin' love Fried Dumpling.
Lahore on Crosby between Houston and Prince is better than Punjabi in my opinion. $4 for at least 2 meals worth of food. Then there's the guy with the cart in Washington Square Park (don't know if he's still there, though). Also: the veggie chili (small) at Karen's on Astor (which is otherwise extremely overpriced) is around $4 and SO GOOD. all soups are that price, but the chili is to die for. keeping with the $4 theme, tortas (mexican sandwiches) at el grand morelos on grand and graham in williamsburg are amazing, but that's heading into the outer boroughs, where there's tons of cheap food, so i don't know if that counts.
Punjabi on Houston and Ave A. JPS said it's at 1st Ave but I believe he/she is talking about the one across from the Mercury Lounge.
That Japanese supermarket on 40th Street between Madison and 5th has a variety of rice bowls and noodle things at the counter that are like 4.50.
I tried the sandwich at Nicky's, that another commentor mentioned. It's really really good.
Let's make this into a Nicky's thread. Other than for variety after you've had the pork chop sandwich a lot of times (10-15) in a row, why would you (where you are not a vegetarian) order anything besides it? It's not that the other options are bad, but it's so good.
There is a little taqueria on 38th on the south side of the street just past 8th Ave. You can get the $5.00 taco special (3 soft tacos with either carnitas, chorizo or chicken), enchildas for $4.50 or a burrito for $3.50. Food is good, simple and authentic. They also have other lunch specials that run around $4-$6.
Fruit and Fiber on Waverly between University and Greene has a sou special for 3.25 (sm) where you get a selection of 8-10 delicious soups, a roll, and a piece of fruit. The perfect Fall lunch may I say?
Horray for Nicky's!! And I'll add that, as opposed to the earlier post, while the Porkchop sandwich is great, I am much more partial to the Special (it's all about the pate) and the Sardine. It's like the heartiest tuna sandwich you have ever had.
forget fried dumpling. dumpling house on eldridge is the best. get the sesame pancake with beef and an order of dumplings for $2.50. you can also grab a 20 oz. soda for $1 at the bodega on the corner of broome and forsyth.
How about a $4.25 Cuban Sandwich at Margon Restaurant on 46th between 6th and 7th? Actually, all of the sandwichs there are $5 or less.
a chickplant sandwhich (eggplant, hummus, hardboiled egg) from CHICKPEA $4.08